Oh, a deer. An ambling deer, disturbing nude sunbathers on the run.
Just as Australia's Covid-safe, seemingly Covid-free, status has been plunged into doubt, a wink from the universe came to remind us life can be pretty silly amid the stark reality.
Let's set the scene.
Sydney is battling to contain a rapidly growing Covid outbreak, with 18 new cases found in the last 24 hours, the stakes are high and the mood is tense for locked-down Sydneysiders.
Enter the NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller at this morning's press conference to remind residents about the consequences they could face if found in breach of the current lockdown.
Straight-faced, Commissioner Fuller laid bare a peculiar tale from his officers on the beat.
"We saw two men sunbaking naked on a beach on the South Coast," he said.
"They were startled by a deer, ran into the national park, and got lost.
"Not only did they require assistance from SES and police to rescue them, they also both received a ticket for $1,000."
Oh, dear.
While NSW tries to contain its coronavirus outbreak, federal politicians in the National Party are fighting their own outbreak of rancour outbreak.
Recently returned Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce revealed his ministerial reshuffle on Sunday, live-streaming a press conference from a pub in Walcha Road.
As expected, Gippsland MP Darren Chester was dumped as veterans' affairs minister. He was replaced by Calare MP Andrew Gee.
After learning his fate, Mr Chester issued an apology on behalf of his colleagues for their conduct and said he was at a loss to explain his demotion.
"The conversation I had with Barnaby was so incoherent yesterday, I couldn't actually explain what he was even saying to me," he said.
"So people of Australia, brace yourself, there will be more conversations like that.
"Now we didn't have harsh words at all, it was just a matter of fact conversation. He was sacking me. I didn't agree with him, and I got on with the walk I was having with my dog."
Mr Joyce said the reshuffle was not about winners and losers, but one aimed at "revitalising" the coalition government.
Abroad, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has foreshadowed a return to travel-bubble arrangements with Australia on a state-by-state basis.
The trans-Tasman bubble was created on April 21 when New Zealand removed its quarantine requirements to Australia.
While there is no prospect of re-opening to NSW as it contends with its major Bondi cluster, Ms Ardern said a reassessment would take place early this week.
New Zealand is on a 120-day streak without community transmission but Wellington is currently on high alert for new cases after an infected Sydney man visited the capital.
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*This edition of The Informer was written by Canberra Times producer Jacob McArthur. If you'd like to show your support for the team behind The Informer, why not forward us to a friend?
THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Startled by a deer, nude sunbathers rescued at Otford, fined by police
- Tasmania reacts to growing national COVID-19 cluster
- July 1's TV flip: what you need to know
- Border communities excluded from NSW orange zones
- Premier calls for calm as NSW records fresh 18 cases
- 'It's a privilege': Gee pledges to deliver results after promotion to cabinet
- Police discover tic-tac container of ice and taser in man's possession
- Barnaby could be based in Armidale, following his step up